Garments with releasable retainers

ABSTRACT

Garments for covering appendages, such as socks and mittens for covering feet and hands, are provided with releasable retainer tabs. The tabs include elements configured to releasably attach. When attached, the tabs cinch a part of the garment covering the appendage joint, e.g., the ankle of a sock or wrist of a mitten. Elasticity of the sock or mitten ensures adequate circulation for the wearer. The tabs serve a secondary function, namely, pairing socks for laundering and storage. Pairing tabs may be provided in addition to or in lieu of the retainer tabs to join paired socks for laundering and storage.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Nonprovisional of and claims the benefit ofpriority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/057,814 filed May 30,2008, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein and made apart hereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to garments, and more particularly, togarments for covering appendages, such as socks for covering feet andmittens for covering hands, with releasable retainer tabs.

BACKGROUND

Infants engage in considerable activity on a regular basis. They explorewith their hands. They squirm, kick, roll, and crawl during variousdevelopment stages. Adults lift infants from a floor, a crib, a car seatand other places. Adults must frequently remove clothing from an infantto clean the infant or change a diaper.

Infants wear socks (or booties) and mittens to keep their feet and handswarm, clean and protected. Mittens also protect an infant fromfingernail scratches. Unfortunately, while engaging in theaforementioned activities, infants tend to remove their socks andmittens. Frequently, the removed items will become lost. The exposedfeet and hands remain unprotected until another pair of garments isavailable. Each missing sock and mitten is an economic loss to bereplaced at the cost of the parent.

Another common problem when washing infant socks (or booties) andmittens is that the articles separate when being washed in a washingmachine. Because such articles of infant clothing are small, a singlesock or mitten can easily end up hidden within the pocket, body, leg orarm sleeve of another garment. Finding the missing article can be timeconsuming and tedious. Often, the result is loss of one of the articlesso that the pair is no longer available.

Thus, there is a widely recognized need for, and it would be highlyadvantageous to have, an easy to use means for improving retention ofsocks and mittens on an infant without compromising the infant'scirculation or posing a choking hazard. Likewise, there is a widelyrecognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, aneasy to use means for pairing (i.e., releasably connecting) socks andpairing mittens while they are laundered. The invention is directed toovercoming one or more of the problems and solving one or more of theneeds as set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve one or more of the problems set forth above, in an exemplaryimplementation of the invention, socks and mittens with releasableretainer tabs are provided. The tabs include elements configured toreleasably attach. When corresponding tabs are attached, the tabs cincha part of the ankle of a sock or wrist of a mitten. Elasticity of thesock or mitten ensures adequate circulation for the infant. The tabs mayalso be used to pair socks for laundering and storage.

A slip-on garment with a binding joint cover is provided. The garment isdesigned to cover an appendage (e.g., a foot or hand) and at least partof the joint (e.g., an ankle or wrist) connecting the appendage. Thegarment may take the form of a sock, mitten, glove or the like. Thegarment includes an appendage covering and a joint covering. The jointcovering extends from the appendage covering and includes a free edgedefining an opening through which the appendage may be inserted. A pairof retainer tabs are attached to the joint covering, the pair ofretainer tabs include a first retainer tab attached to the jointcovering a first distance from the free edge defining the opening of thejoint covering. A second retainer tab is attached to the joint coveringin operable alignment with the first retainer tab at the first distancefrom the free edge defining the opening of the joint covering and spacedapart from the first retainer tab by a second distance. The secondretainer tab is configured for releasable attachment to the firstretainer. The pair of retainer tabs cinch the joint covering by reducingthe second distance when the second retainer tab is releasably attachedto the first retainer tab.

In a preferred embodiment, the pair of retainer tabs includes hook andloop fasteners. The first retainer tab may include a hook type fastenerand the second retainer tab includes a loop type fastener. The secondretainer tab is spaced apart from the first retainer tab by the seconddistance. The second distance may be about ⅛ to 1 inch when the secondretainer tab is not releasably attached to the first retainer tab. Thefirst retainer tab has a first edge and an opposite second edge. Thefirst retainer tab is attached to the joint covering along the firstedge of the first retainer tab. The first retainer tab may be able topivot about the first edge. The second retainer tab also has a firstedge and an opposite second edge. The second retainer tab is attached tothe joint covering along the first edge of the second retainer tab. Thesecond retainer tab may also able to pivot about the first edge of thesecond retainer tab. Alternatively, the second retainer tab may beattached to the joint covering along the first edge and the second edgeof the second retainer tab. The second retainer tab configured forreleasable attachment to the first retainer cinches the joint coveringand increases the tensile forces in the joint covering, when worn, byreducing the second distance when the second retainer tab is releasablyattached to the first retainer tab. Releasably attaching the retainertabs thereby resists removal of the slip on garment from an appendagewhen worn.

In one embodiment, a pair of socks is provided. Each sock, i.e., a firstsock and a second sock, includes a foot covering including a toe portionconfigured to coves toes of a foot, and a heel portion configured tocover a heel of a foot, and an ankle covering extending from the footcovering. The ankle covering includes a free edge defining an openingthrough which a foot may be inserted. A pair of retainer tabs isattached to the ankle covering. The pair of retainer tabs includes hookand loop fasteners, and comprises a first retainer tab attached to theankle covering a first distance from the free edge defining the openingof the ankle covering, a second retainer tab attached to the anklecovering in operable alignment with the first retainer tab at the firstdistance from the free edge defining the opening of the ankle coveringand spaced apart from the first retainer tab by a second distance. Thesecond retainer tab is configured for releasable attachment to the firstretainer. The pair of retainer tabs cinch (i.e., tighten by binding) theankle covering by reducing the second distance when the second retainertab is releasably attached to the first retainer tab.

The first sock is releasably attachable to the second sock using thefirst and second retainer tabs of the first sock and the first andsecond retainer tabs of the second sock. For example, the first retainertab of the first and second socks may attach together, and the secondretainer tab of the first sock is configured to releasably attach to thesecond retainer tab of the second sock. The ankle coverings of the firstand second socks may (but are not required to) be in alignment when thefirst retainer tab of the first sock is configured to releasably attachto the first retainer tab of the second sock, and the second retainertab of the first sock is configured to releasably attach to the secondretainer tab of the second sock. Alternatively, the first retainer tabof the first sock may be configured to releasably attach to the secondretainer tab of the second sock, and the second retainer tab of thefirst sock may be configured to releasably attach to the first retainertab of the second sock. As another alternative, the first retainer tabof the first sock may be configured to releasably attach to the secondretainer tab of the first sock, and the first retainer tab of the secondsock may be configured to releasably attach to the second retainer tabof the second sock, with the first retainer tab of the second sock andthe second retainer tab of the second sock is disposed between the anklecovering of the first sock and the pair of retainer tabs of the firstsock.

In another embodiment, the a foldable pairing tab is attached to theankle covering. The pairing tab includes a tab body attached to theankle covering, a hook retainer portion attached to the tab body, and aloop retainer portion attached to the tab body and spaced apart from thehook retainer portion by a folding area. The hook retainer portionreleasably engages the loop retainer portion when the tab body is foldedalong the folding area and the hook retainer portion and loop retainerportion are urged into contact. The foldable area may be (but is notrequired to be) aligned with the free edge of the ankle covering. Thepairing tab of the first sock may be configured to releasably attach tothe pairing tab of the second sock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of theinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary pair of socks with corresponding retainer tabsaccording to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary pair of retainer tabs for socks according toprinciples of the invention; and

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary pair of socks with corresponding retainer tabsin open position according to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary pair of socks with corresponding retainer tabsin closed position according to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary pair of socks with corresponding retainer tabsin configuration for pairing according to principles of the invention;and

FIGS. 6A through 6C show an exemplary mitten with corresponding retainertabs in open, partially closed and closed positions according toprinciples of the invention; and

FIG. 7 shows another exemplary pair of socks with corresponding retainertabs in open position according to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 8 shows exemplary retainer tabs for a sock according to principlesof the invention; and

FIG. 9 shows another exemplary pair of socks with corresponding retainertabs in closed position according to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 10 shows another exemplary pair of socks with corresponding pairingtabs in open position according to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 11 shows another exemplary pair of socks with corresponding pairingtabs in closed position according to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 12 shows another exemplary pair of socks with corresponding pairingtabs in open position according to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 13 shows an exemplary pair of socks paired with correspondingpairing tabs according to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 14 shows another exemplary pair of socks with corresponding pairingtabs in open position according to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 15 shows an exemplary pair of socks paired with correspondingpairing tabs according to principles of the invention;

FIG. 16 shows another exemplary pair of socks with corresponding pairingtabs in open position according to principles of the invention; and

FIG. 17 shows an exemplary pair of socks paired with correspondingpairing tabs according to principles of the invention.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the figures are notintended to be drawn to any particular scale; nor are the figuresintended to illustrate every embodiment of the invention. The inventionis not limited to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the figures orthe types of devices, shapes, relative sizes, ornamental aspects orproportions shown in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the FIGS. 1 through 4 and 7 through 9, in which like partsare indicated with the same reference numerals, various views ofexemplary socks are shown. In the drawings, 100, 135 represent a sock,and together they represent a pair of socks. As is well known, a sock100, 135 is a knitted or woven type of hosiery garment for enclosing thehuman foot, such as an infant's foot. A sock according to principles ofthe invention may be created from any of a wide variety of materialssuitable for garments, including, but not limited to, cotton, wool,nylon, silk, acrylic, polyester, olefin, polypropylene, and spandex.Typically, the sock 100, 135, or at least the ankle portion 125, 145exhibits some elasticity. The elasticity keeps the sock comfortablysecured around an ankle.

Although a particular style and proportioned sock is shown, theinvention is not so limited. The invention is not limited to anyparticular sock size or height. By way of example and not limitation,ankle-high to calf level and all heights in between are intended to comewithin the scope of the invention.

Each sock 100, 135 comprises a foot covering 115, 155 and an anklecovering 125, 145. Each foot covering 115, 155 includes a toe portionthat covers toes of a foot. Each foot covering 115, 155 also includes aheel portion 110, 160 that covers a heel of a foot. Each ankle covering125, 145 includes an opening 130, 140 through which a foot is inserted.

An exemplary sock retainer according to principles of the inventioncomprises a pair of tabs such as tabs 105, 120 and 150, 165, asillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8. The tabs 105, 120 and 150, 165 areattached to the ankle covering 125, 145, in general alignment but spacedapart from each other. The spacing may vary from a few mm apart to ½ ofthe periphery of the sock.

The tabs 105, 120 and 150, 165 may be formed as an integral part of thesock 100, 135. Alternatively, the tabs 105, 120 and 150, 165 maycomprise separate pieces attached to the ankle covering 125, 145 bystitching 170, 175, 180, 185 bonding or otherwise. Any manner ofattachment now known or hereafter developed is intended to come withinthe scope of the invention. Each tab may be attached (e.g., stitched) tothe sock along one vertical edge of the tab, thereby allowing pivotingmovement of the tab. Alternatively, one tab on a sock may be attached(e.g., stitched) to the sock along a plurality of edges of the tab. Thecorresponding engaging tab may be attached (e.g., stitched) to the sockalong one vertical edge of the tab. That tab, which may pivot, can berepeatedly attached to and detached from the other tab.

Each pair of tabs includes means for releasable engagement. For example,in a preferred embodiment, each pair of tabs includes one tab with loopelements (i.e., the “hairier” side) 105, 165 of a hook and loopfastener. The loop elements 105, 165 may be glued, stitched or otherwiseattached to the body of the tabs. Each pair of tabs 105, 120 and 150,165 also includes one tab with hook elements 120, 150 of the hook andloop fastener. The hook elements 120, 150 may be glued, stitched orotherwise attached to the body of the tabs. By way of example and notlimitation, the hook and loop elements may be of the type manufacturedand sold by Velcro Corporation of New York, N.Y. under the registeredtrademark VELCRO®. Other means of releasable engagement, such as buttonsand snaps, may be used and are intended to come within the scope of theinvention.

To use the retainers, the hook and loop elements are configured suchthat the tabs, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, are urged together in engagingalignment and releasably interlocked, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9. Whenthe loop element 205, 265 of a tab is pressed against the hook element220, 265 of a corresponding tab of a pair, the hooks catch in the loopsand releasably secure the corresponding tabs together. Concomitantly,the material comprising the spacing is bunched up beneath the attachedhook and loop elements, and the spacing between the hook and loopelements is either decreased or virtually eliminated. Consequently, thereduction or elimination of such spacing has the effect of cinching orgirding, i.e., reducing the diameter of, the ankle portion of the sock100, 135 at the cinched areas 190, 192 and 195, 197. In so doing, theankle portion of the sock 100, 135 tightens the ankle portion of thesock 100, 135 around the wearer's ankle. With sufficient cinching, thesock 100, 135 is secured to a wearer's ankle, resisting unintendedremoval. Concomitantly, the part of the ankle portion of the sock 100,135 that is not bound by the engaged tabs provides elasticity around theankle. This elasticity ensures good circulation through the wearer'sankle. Thus, advantageously, the invention avoids a constrictingengagement around an infant's ankle that could impair blood flow to andfrom an infant's feet if the constricting force is too great.

The tabs 105, 120 and 150, 165 serve a secondary function, i.e., to pairsocks together. During laundering and storage, the tabs 105, 120 and150, 165 may be used to attach each sock of a pair together. Pairing mayentail attaching the hook elements of a tab on a first sock to the loopelements of a tab on the second sock, and attaching the loop elements ofa tab on the first sock to the loop elements of a tab on the secondsock. Alternatively, the attached hook and loop elements of one pair oftabs on one sock, may be positioned between the other sock and itsattached pair of hook and loop elements, as conceptually illustrated inFIGS. 16 and 17. The paired socks 100, 135 prevent separation. Pairingthus avoids the tedious chore of searching through a clothes dryer,basket or drawer for a missing matching sock.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, various views of an exemplarymitten are shown. In the drawings, 300 represents a mitten. The mitten300 is a knitted or woven type of hosiery garment for enclosing thehuman hand, such as an infant's hand. A mitten according to principlesof the invention may be created from any of a wide variety of materialssuitable for garments, including, but not limited to, cotton, wool,nylon, silk, acrylic, polyester, olefin, polypropylene, and spandex.Typically, the mitten 300, or at least the wrist portion 315 exhibitssome elasticity. The elasticity keeps the mitten comfortably securedaround a wrist.

Although a particular style and proportioned mitten is shown, theinvention is not so limited. The invention is not limited to anyparticular mitten size or length. Mittens or gloves with and withoutseparate thumb and finger compartments comes within the scope of theinvention.

Each mitten 300 comprises a hand covering 305 and a wrist covering 315.Each hand covering 305 covers fingers of a hand. Each wrist covering 315includes an opening 310 through which a hand is inserted.

An exemplary mitten retainer according to principles of the inventioncomprises a pair of tabs such as tabs 320, 325. The tabs 320, 325 areattached to the wrist covering 315, in general alignment but spacedapart from each other. The spacing may vary from a few mm apart to ½ ofthe periphery of the mitten.

The tabs 320, 325 may be formed as an integral part of the mitten 300.Alternatively, the tabs 320, 325 may comprise separate pieces attachedto the wrist covering 315 by stitching 330, 335 bonding or otherwise.Any manner of attachment now known or hereafter developed is intended tocome within the scope of the invention.

Each pair of tabs includes means for releasable engagement. For example,in a preferred embodiment, each pair of tabs includes one tab with loopelements (i.e., the “hairier” side) 325 of a hook and loop fastener. Theloop elements 325 may be glued, stitched or otherwise attached to thebody of the tabs. Each pair of tabs 320, 325 also includes one tab withhook elements 320 of the hook and loop fastener. The hook elements 320may be glued, stitched or otherwise attached to the body of the tabs. Byway of example and not limitation, the hook and loop elements may be ofthe type manufactured and sold by Velcro Corporation of New York, N.Y.under the registered trademark VELCRO®. Other means of releasableengagement, such as buttons and snaps, may be used and are intended tocome within the scope of the invention.

To use the retainers, the hook and loop elements are configured suchthat the tabs may be urged together in engaging alignment and releasablyinterlocked, as shown in FIG. 2. The mitten 300 is shown with tabs fullyapart in FIG. 6A, with one tab pivoted towards the other tab in FIG. 6Band with the tabs releasably attached in FIG. 6C. When the loop element320 of a tab is pressed against the hook element 325 of a correspondingtab of a pair, the hooks catch in the loops and releasably secure thecorresponding tabs together. Concomitantly, the spacing is decreased oreliminated, thereby cinching the wrist portion of the mitten 300. Thecinching action secures the mitten 300 to a wearer's wrist, makingunintended removal very difficult. Concomitantly, the part of the wristportion of the mitten 300 that is not bound by the engaged tabs provideselasticity around the wrist. This elasticity ensures good circulationthrough the wearer's wrist. Thus, advantageously, the invention avoids aconstricting engagement around an infant's wrist that could impair bloodflow to and from an infant's hand if the constricting force is toogreat.

The tabs serve a secondary function, i.e., to pair mittens together.During laundering and storage, the tabs may be used to attach eachmitten of a pair together. The paired mittens prevent separation.Pairing thus avoids the tedious chore of searching through a clothesdryer, basket or drawer for a missing matching mitten.

In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10 through 15, pairingretainers are provided in addition to or in lieu of the sock retainersdescribed above. The pairing retainers comprise tabs such as tabs 400,425 as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 14. The tabs 400, 425 are attached tothe ankle covering 125, 145, in a generally vertical orientation.

Each tab 400, 425 comprises a substrate 405, 430 onto which hookelements 410, 445 and loop elements 420, 435 are attached. A foldablesection 415, 440 of the substrate 405, 430 separates the hook elements410, 445 from the loop elements 420, 435. Each sock may have the hookand loop elements in the same position on the tab. For example, the hookelement of each tab may be at the top (i.e., near the free end) of thetab, while the loop element of each tab may be at the opposite end ofthe tab. Alternatively, the loop element of each tab may be at the top(i.e., near the free end) of the tab, while the hook element of each tabmay be at the opposite end of the tab. In either of the foregoingconfigurations, tabs on paired socks may be attached by joining the hookelement of each tab to the loop element of the corresponding tab, forexample, as conceptually illustrated in FIG. 15. When the tabs are notused for pairing, they may be folded over so that the loop portionengages the hook portion of the tab, as shown in FIG. 11.

In an alternative embodiment, each pair of socks may have the hook andloop elements in the opposite positions on their respective tabs. Forexample, the hook element of the tab for one sock may be at the top(i.e., near the free end) of the tab, while the loop element of the tabmay be at the opposite end of the tab, or vice versa. On the pairedsock, the loop element of the tab may be at the top (i.e., near the freeend) of the tab, while the hook element of each tab may be at theopposite end of the tab, or vice versa. Thus, tabs on paired socks maybe attached by joining the hook element of each tab to the loop elementof the corresponding tab, for example, as conceptually illustrated inFIG. 13. When the tabs are not used for pairing, they may be folded overso that the loop portion engages the hook portion of the tab.

The tabs 400, 425 may comprise separate pieces attached to the anklecovering 125, 145 by stitching bonding or otherwise. In a preferredembodiment, the tabs are arranged with the foldable sections 415, 440near the top edge of the ankle covering 125, 145. The portion of the tabbetween the foldable section and the foot covering 115 of the sock isattached to the ankle covering 125, 145. Any manner of attachment nowknown or hereafter developed is intended to come within the scope of theinvention. Each tab may be attached (e.g., stitched) to the sock alongone or more vertical and/or horizontal edges of the tab.

The pairing tabs 400, 425 pair socks together. During laundering andstorage, the tabs 400, 425 may be used to attach each sock of a pairtogether. Pairing may entail attaching the hook elements of a tab on afirst sock to the loop elements of a tab on the second sock, andattaching the loop elements of a tab on the first sock to the loopelements of a tab on the second sock. Alternatively, the attached hookand loop elements of one pair of tabs on one sock, may be positionedbetween the other sock and its attached pair of hook and loop elements,as conceptually illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17. The paired socks 100,135 prevent separation. Pairing thus avoids the tedious chore ofsearching through a clothes dryer, basket or drawer for a missingmatching sock. When not being used for pairing, the tabs 400, 425 may befolded over as in FIG. 11 to reveal indicia (e.g., a decoration or logo)on the exposed portion of the tab.

In the embodiments discussed above, there are several advantages gainedfrom the invention. One is that the socks and mittens will remain on theinfant's feet and hands during normal wear. Another is that circulationwill not be impaired during normal use. A third is that the items may bepaired for laundering and storage.

While an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described, itshould be apparent that modifications and variations thereto arepossible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of theinvention. With respect to the above description then, it is to berealized that the optimum relationships for the components and steps ofthe invention, including variations in order, form, content, functionand manner of operation, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to oneskilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention. The abovedescription and drawings are illustrative of modifications that can bemade without departing from the present invention, the scope of which isto be limited only by the following claims. Therefore, the foregoing isconsidered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur tothose skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention tothe exact construction and operation shown and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents are intended tofall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

1. A slip on garment with a binding joint cover, said slip on garmentcomprising: an appendage covering; a joint covering extending from theappendage covering, the joint covering including a free edge defining anopening through which an appendage may be inserted; a pair of retainertabs attached to the joint covering, said pair of retainer tabsincluding: a first retainer tab attached to the joint covering a firstdistance from the free edge defining the opening of the joint covering;a second retainer tab attached to the joint covering in operablealignment with the first retainer tab at the first distance from thefree edge defining the opening of the joint covering, spaced apart fromthe first retainer tab by a second distance, wherein said secondretainer tab is configured for releasable attachment to said firstretainer, and said pair of retainer tabs cinching said joint covering byreducing the second distance when said second retainer tab is releasablyattached to said first retainer tab.
 2. A slip on garment with a bindingjoint cover according to claim 1: said pair of retainer tabs comprisinghook and loop fasteners.
 3. A slip on garment with a binding joint coveraccording to claim 1: said pair of retainer tabs comprising hook andloop fasteners, said first retainer tab comprising a hook type fastenerand said second retainer tab comprising a loop type fastener.
 4. A slipon garment with a binding joint cover according to claim 1: said pair ofretainer tabs comprising hook and loop fasteners, said first retainertab comprising a hook type fastener and said second retainer tabcomprising a loop type fastener, and said second retainer tab beingspaced apart from the first retainer tab by the second distance, saidsecond distance being about ⅛ to 1 inch when said second retainer tab isnot releasably attached to said first retainer tab.
 5. A slip on garmentwith a binding joint cover according to claim 1: said first retainer tabhaving a first edge and an opposite second edge, and said first retainertab being attached to the joint covering along the first edge of thefirst retainer tab, and said first retainer tab being able to pivotabout the first edge; and said second retainer tab having a first edgeand an opposite second edge, and said second retainer tab being attachedto the joint covering along the first edge of the second retainer tab,and said second retainer tab being able to pivot about the first edge ofthe second retainer tab.
 6. A slip on garment with a binding joint coveraccording to claim 1: said first retainer tab having a first edge and anopposite second edge, and said first retainer tab being attached to thejoint covering along the first edge of the first retainer tab, and saidfirst retainer tab being able to pivot about the first edge; and saidsecond retainer tab having a first edge and an opposite second edge, andsaid second retainer tab being attached to the joint covering along thefirst edge and the second edge of the second retainer tab.
 7. A slip ongarment with a binding joint cover according to claim 1: wherein saidsecond retainer tab configured for releasable attachment to said firstretainer cinches said joint covering and increases the tensile forces inthe joint covering, when worn, by reducing the second distance when saidsecond retainer tab is releasably attached to said first retainer tab.8. A slip on garment with a binding joint cover according to claim 1:wherein said second retainer tab configured for releasable attachment tosaid first retainer cinches said joint covering by reducing the seconddistance when said second retainer tab is releasably attached to saidfirst retainer tab and thereby resists removal of the slip on garmentfrom an appendage when worn.
 9. A slip on garment with a binding jointcover according to claim 1 wherein the appendage is a foot and the jointis an ankle.
 10. A slip on garment with a binding joint cover accordingto claim 1 wherein the appendage is a hand and the joint is a wrist. 11.A pair of socks, including a first sock and a second sock, with eachsock comprising: a foot covering covering including a toe portionconfigured to coves toes of a foot, and a heel portion configured tocover a heel of a foot; an ankle covering extending from the footcovering, the ankle covering including a free edge defining an openingthrough which a foot may be inserted; a pair of retainer tabs attachedto the ankle covering, said pair of retainer tabs comprising hook andloop fasteners, and said pair of retainer tabs including: a firstretainer tab attached to the ankle covering a first distance from thefree edge defining the opening of the ankle covering; a second retainertab attached to the ankle covering in operable alignment with the firstretainer tab at the first distance from the free edge defining theopening of the ankle covering, spaced apart from the first retainer tabby a second distance, wherein said second retainer tab is configured forreleasable attachment to said first retainer, and said pair of retainertabs cinching said ankle covering by reducing the second distance whensaid second retainer tab is releasably attached to said first retainertab; said first sock being releasably attachable to the second sockusing the first and second retainer tabs of the first sock and the firstand second retainer tabs of the second sock.
 12. A pair of socksaccording to claim 11, wherein the first retainer tab of the first sockis configured to releasably attach to the first retainer tab of thesecond sock, and the second retainer tab of the first sock is configuredto releasably attach to the second retainer tab of the second sock. 13.A pair of socks according to claim 12, wherein the ankle coverings ofsaid first and second socks are in alignment when the first retainer tabof the first sock is configured to releasably attach to the firstretainer tab of the second sock, and the second retainer tab of thefirst sock is configured to releasably attach to the second retainer tabof the second sock.
 14. A pair of socks according to claim 11, whereinthe first retainer tab of the first sock is configured to releasablyattach to the second retainer tab of the second sock, and the secondretainer tab of the first sock is configured to releasably attach to thefirst retainer tab of the second sock.
 15. A pair of socks according toclaim 11, wherein the first retainer tab of the first sock is configuredto releasably attach to the second retainer tab of the first sock, andthe first retainer tab of the second sock is configured to releasablyattach to the second retainer tab of the second sock, with the firstretainer tab of the second sock and the second retainer tab of thesecond sock being disposed between the ankle covering of the first sockand the pair of retainer tabs of the first sock.
 16. A pair of socks,including a first sock and a second sock, with each sock comprising: afoot covering covering including a toe portion configured to coves toesof a foot, and a heel portion configured to cover a heel of a foot; anankle covering extending from the foot covering, the ankle coveringincluding a free edge defining an opening through which a foot may beinserted; a foldable pairing tab attached to the ankle covering, saidpairing tab comprising: a tab body attached to the ankle covering, ahook retainer portion attached to the tab body; a loop retainer portionattached to the tab body and spaced apart from the hook retainer portionby a folding area, said hook retainer portion releasably engaging saidloop retainer portion when said tab body is folded along the foldingarea and the hook retainer portion and loop retainer portion are urgedinto contact.
 17. A pair of socks according to claim 16, wherein thefoldable area is aligned with the free edge of the ankle covering.
 18. Apair of socks according to claim 16, wherein the pairing tab of thefirst sock is configured to releasably attach to the pairing tab of thesecond sock.